Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index surged 838.67 points to 167,097.21 by 10:40am on Wednesday, marking a 0.5 percent rise from its previous close of 166,258.54. Investors welcomed the rebound after a shaky start, with the market recovering from an early loss of 400 points. Despite gains, analysts noted that volatility remains a key feature of trading activity, reflecting uncertainty among market participants.
Market swings highlight investor caution
Trading on Wednesday showed continued instability following Tuesday’s turbulent session, when the index swung from an intraday gain of 1,546 points to a sharp decline of 3,783 points as selling pressure intensified. So far today, the index touched a high of 168,191.64 and a low of 165,819.42, demonstrating ongoing fluctuations. Experts suggest that both geopolitical developments and investor sentiment around corporate earnings reports are influencing market behavior.
Top performers and laggards
Among the most active stocks, Cnergyico PK Ltd. led gains, climbing 12.69 percent to Rs7.46 with a volume of 48,242,450 shares. First National Equities Ltd. rose 3.40 percent to Rs1.52 on 23,490,831 shares, while National Bank of Pakistan gained 5.96 percent to Rs266.25 with 16,963,676 shares traded. The day’s top advancers included Media Times Ltd., up 15.25 percent to Rs5.44, followed by Cnergyico PK Ltd. and Telecard Ltd., which rose 10.87 percent to Rs9.28.
Conversely, Azgard Nine Non-Voting Ordinary Shares fell 11.38 percent to Rs6.85, Security Investment Bank Ltd. dropped 10.30 percent to Rs7.40, and LOADS Ltd. (R) declined 6.67 percent to Rs0.98. Analysts say these movements indicate a mix of profit-taking and cautious positioning ahead of major earnings announcements, which could set the tone for the market in the coming weeks.
